Hey guys,
Setting up at my first mini show in a few weeks and just wanted some tips on how I should set up and what are some things you like and dislike bout certain tables?
Also, where do you get those large shadow box/display cases? Kinda hesitant to bring any high end stuff without one of those.
Thanks!
Here are some of my tips that have often helped me get the best results out of a show:
1)
The biggest rule above all is first to nave fun. The friends and contacts you make at these shows can sometimes become some of your best friends and associates in your various hobbies and beyond so never burn bridges. The hobby seems big, but it is really small and word gets out (good or bad) about individuals.
2)
Be pleasant, greet everyone, engage with old AND young collectors, male and female collectors, people who seem wealthy, people who seem like they are there more to browse, it doesn't matter...engage with everyone. I have heard from lots of people who came by my table at shows that other dealers wouldn't even acknowledge them. The hobby is for everyone of all budgets, ages, genders, etc., so if their first experience in the hobby is a booth owner who gatekeeps, ignores them, or berates them, then that is where the hobby dies. Also, keep politics at home. Dealers who rant and rave about some provincial, state, or national policy and cannot switch it off are a quick turn-off for comfortably browsing at their booth. We all have our political opinions and it doesn't matter what side of the political spectrum a person falls on, when a vendor starts a tirade about politics at their table, it goes from me thinking "this is a neat card" to, "I just want to move onto the next booth where the dealer hopefully has a more positive energy".
3)
Don't take lowballers personally as you will get those guys a lot. Some people genuinely don't know values, others want to flip. At the end, it's only cards and the easiest thing to do is say no.
4)
Make sure you are always aware of your stuff. I've caught more than a few people with sticky fingers near my tables trying to get the old "five finger discount". It helps to have a friend or family member assist you at the show as they can be another set of eyes and potentially deter thieves.
5)
Bring change. As a seller I bring a fair number of $5 bills, plus a few rolls of loonies, and quarters. $20 bills and above I usually bring the least of as most people will take money out of an ATM for buying at shows and those would mostly be in $20 bills. You get the odd person here and there paying with 50s or 100s, but those are less common.
6)
Be open to other methods of payment. As a seller I take cash, e-transfer, and PayPal. Open the options, someone may not have $300 cash, but they want an item they will happily throw PayPal towards.
As a buyer, I like it for the same reason I noted at the end. I may want a $500 item, but don't have the cash. E-Transfer and PayPal are itching at those times.
7)
Lay out your inventory in a tasteful and pre-meditated way. The buyers will respond to it. Neat, and easily navigable is key. If you have one table, don't stuff it to the brim, and utilize your space in such a way that it is comfortable to browse. Don't squeeze a 3200 count box and 40 binders on one 4 foot table and expect people to look through it all, but if you have a few tables, have at 'er. Also, definitely don't be that seller with the mountains of cards where sticky, yellowed toploaders are stacked to the ceiling, wrapped in brittle rubber bands with no rhyme or reason of the order.
I always have my higher end items in showcases alphabetized by team, then my boxes are organized by team, and then my binders are sub-divided into rookie binders, game used/autograph/serial numbered binders, and insert binders all organized by team and everything priced. I also make it a point to create a binder specifically focused on the local pro team (for example, Calgary Flames in Calgary.
8)
Have a little bit of everything. Lower prices items, mid-priced items, higher-priced items, etc. You can appeal to different demographics of collectors. What you think is $1 and not worth bringing may be priceless to another collector or start that one kid off on his collecting journey and he will always remember that $1 card sold at this one table at this one show...
9)
Hygiene is important. No more to explain there.
10)
ALWAYS PRICE YOUR CARDS in a way that people can see the price without having to ask! Always, always price. I always put them on the front of my toploaders, nice and clear. It shows that you are organized, spent time with your items, and that you care.
As a buyer, seeing cards priced is nice as I may want the item outright at a potentially surprising price or I have a good baseline from which to negotiate on a deal. I hate asking "how much is that", "and how about that", "or that", etc., etc when a little sticker would be all it takes for me to know the answer. I also have the pre-conception that if an item isn't priced, the person is probably going to ask too much for it anyway. If you are worried about adhesive residue left on the toploader or slab, you can team bag them before putting on the price tag.
Don't be that guy who did not prepare so anytime someone asks a price you have to bust out the Beckett Guide or eBay, and especially don't be that seller who has a price tag on an item, the buyer wants it and then you say "oh, it should have been [a higher price] instead."
11) As for your display cases question, I believe those can be purchased pre-fabbed nowadays, also potentially found on Facebook marketplace or Kijiji. Depending on the size of the show, sometimes they rent them out. You can repurpose hinged jersey shadowboxes as well. Most of the showcases I use were all handmade by my dad.
